LOCKSIDE pubs have stepped in to salvage the town's summer music festival after it was cancelled because of foot and mouth.

Outbreaks of the disease in and around Mid Cheshire forced organisers of the Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival to cancel the annual entertainment spectacular, scheduled for next month.

But now the canals have been reopened by waterways officials who say the worst of the outbreak is over, and local landlords have decided to step in with a mini version of the event, which has become the highlight of Middlewich's social and economic calendars.

A number of pubs have decided to to ahead with music and entertainment during the weekend of June 15-17, and more are expected to follow suit.

Billie Law of the canalside King's Lock pub in Booth Lane is keen to make sure Middlewich doesn't miss out.

She said: 'People in Middlewich look forward to the folk and boat festival and it is important that there is still some entertainment that weekend ­Middlewich is still on the map!

'We have decided to organise a music and craft weekend. We are still making plans at the moment and the entertainment has yet to be confirmed, but we are confident the venture will be a success.

'We are trying to encourage bands and musicians to come along and we have all sorts of craft stalls lined up.'

Tony Johnson, who runs the nearby Cheshire Cheese, has booked Irish folk band Jug-A-Punch and country band Calico Jack and plans more music.

He said: 'It is what we were planning to do before foot and mouth forced the cancellation of the festival. But with the canals open again we decided we might as well go for it and I think a lot more pubs will join in when they find out others are going ahead.'

Businesses in Middlewich were reeling from the news when organisers made the difficult decision, after taking advice from experts, to call off the town's biggest attraction for the first time in its 12-year history.

More than 30,000 visitors were expected to descend on Middlewich for the event, bringing a jackpot of cash for local traders.

The festival committee has pledged to devote all its time and energy to making sure next year's Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival is the best yet.